Tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Konstantin Koltsov. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that Koltsov, aged 42, died by suicide on March 18, 2024, while in Miami.
It was reported that Koltsov was in Florida to support Sabalenka’s participation in the Miami Open, although Sabalenka stated that they “were no longer together” at the time of his death.
Despite keeping their relationship mostly private, Koltsov, a former ice hockey player, appeared to have been a supportive presence in Sabalenka’s life.
Sabalenka, who gained broader recognition through Netflix’s Break Point tennis docuseries, won her first Grand Slam women’s singles title at the Australian Open in 2023.
When she secured a second consecutive Australian Open victory in January 2024, Koltsov congratulated her on Instagram with the message, “Congratulations again my love.”
Koltsov had a distinguished career in ice hockey, participating in two Olympic Games.
Here’s what is known about the late Konstantin Koltsov:
Koltsov played professional ice hockey for 18 years, representing Belarus in the IIHF World Championships and the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010.
He also had a brief stint in the NHL, playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins over three seasons after being drafted by the team in 1999. From 2008 to 2016, he played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Koltsov hailed from Minsk, Belarus, the same city where Sabalenka was born, according to her WTA profile.
Sabalenka and Koltsov made their relationship public on Instagram in June 2021. On June 19, she posted a photo of Koltsov kissing her on the cheek, captioned,
“It’s good when there is someone who is able to understand my madnes,” adding, “but you won’t get bored with me, right @koltsov2021?.”
While Koltsov kept his Instagram private, Sabalenka occasionally shared moments with him on social media.
On April 17, 2023, Sabalenka celebrated Koltsov’s 42nd birthday by sharing a video slideshow featuring clips and photos of the couple together, including moments on a boat and at the gym.
In May 2022, Sabalenka and Koltsov enjoyed a trip to Rome, Italy, with Sabalenka posting several photos from the trip, including the couple posing in front of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and enjoying gelato together.
They also traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July 2022, where Sabalenka shared a photo of herself in a green bikini holding Koltsov’s hand while he wrapped his other arm around her waist, captioned, “Having fun on the beach.”
Prior to her relationship with Koltsov, Sabalenka was engaged to another individual, whose identity she kept private.
She announced her engagement in November 2019, stating, “It’s just an engagement. I am a little bit against weddings, against it as an event like it is.” She clarified that her fiancé was not from Belarus and was not her former coach, Dmitry Tursunov.
Koltsov was reportedly the father of three children, sons Daniel, Alexander, and Stefan, from a previous relationship.
In December 2022, Sabalenka responded to a fan’s question on Instagram about whether she thought she would be an amazing stepmother, writing,
“I don’t know … I guess yes” over a photo of a little boy kissing her face, and adding, “Stefan loves me.” Sabalenka also tagged Koltsov in the post.
In April 2023, she shared another Instagram Story, tagging Koltsov, featuring a photo of her and Stefan holding hands at what appeared to be a mall, with the caption, “Dinner was good.”
The KHL team Salavat Yulaev Ufa, for which Koltsov coached, confirmed his death on March 18, 2024.
“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev coach Konstantin Koltsov has passed away,” the team announced in a statement.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, his former team, also expressed condolences, noting that Koltsov was their first-round draft pick in 1999.
On March 19, the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that Koltsov died by suicide.
The police statement revealed that emergency services were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, responding to reports of a man who had jumped from a balcony.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the apparent suicide, with no foul play suspected.
